Sports Minister Promises House Cleaning

New Minister for Youth and Sports, Mallam Yusuf Ali Issa, has given a strong indication to work in exposing all the deals and acts of malfeasance he has inherited in his Ministry.

He told the Chronicle in a no-holds-barred interview in his office Wednesday, last week, that he has received the green light and the necessary backing from President John Agyekum Kufuor to unravel all the sleazy deals that have taken place in the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS).

In his words Mallam Issa stated: “I am aware of all the things (deals) that have transpired in this office and I have come here with a big broom to sweep out all the rot,” he emphasised.

According to Mallam Issa, he is also aware of the mafia operating in the football fraternity and the godfathers behind them, stressing that, he would blow the lid on them very soon. He would, however, take his time to pore over all the “tainted” files before taking any comprehensive and decisive move on his next line of action, he told the Chronicle.

The MOYS has come under the media’s microscope over acts of corruption, malfeasance and conflicts of interest leading to the loss of billions of cedis to the State.

Mallam Issa who appeared worried over the issue during the interview also showed an unswerving understanding of the goings-on in the Ministry.

Issues that have engaged his attention, he confirmed to the Chronicle include the Asare Original Pay All Sports Fund, the proposed Olympic-size Stadium, the Sydney Olympics, the Hotel bills for national teams and a host of others.

Outstanding bills of the Ministry of Youth and Sports currently run into several billions of cedis. Some of the bills were overpriced and simply bloated.

The Minister was, however, non-committal when pressed by the Chronicle to comment on his two nominees to the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association (GFA). According to him, no name had come to mind, but hinted supporting a candidate who stands in good stead to be appointed to the Executive Council of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Such a person, he contended, would cater for the interest of the nation at all levels of the game.

Two names, Mr. Akai-Nettey and Alhaji M.N.D Jawula, immediate past Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) have emerged as strong contenders out of over twenty names put forward for the much-coveted job.